I was fortunate to know Senator Kennedy for more than 30 years — we shared geography — (Boston — DC and Florida) as mutual touch points — we shared a love of Georgetown and the Jesuits and the Shriver family ,too.

Ted Kennedy was a very funny man. Warm — twinkle in the eye. A hugger.  And he never missed an opportunity to ask for something — a donation to a charity — an internship request for someone; a recommendation to Georgetown for someone else — and he always dropped you a line — a personal hand written letter as follow up. I once shared a shuttle ride with him from NYC to Boston — it was a very memorable 75 minutes together talking about poor Irish — Lowell Mass — and his family in DC — and the importance of the Catholic Church to him .

He loved to tease. A few years back — the Capitals were playing the Bruins — Senator Kennedy and Senator Kerry both attended the game and sat with us in the owners box. Teddy sat next to me and was humming show tunes for most of the first period — he was working the room; he seemed so happy. I asked him if he wanted to sing the National Anthem at a game — he told me he was thinking about taking singing lessons.

In between periods — the beauty queen who sang the National Anthem came up to our box to take some photos — Teddy immediately started to organize the photo session — ” Ok — Ted Leonsis — you stand here next to me — Senator Kerry — you stand next to this lovely young woman — now put your arm around her — she seems so shy and scared — Mr Photographer — on three — take the shot” — says Teddy Kennedy.

As we count down — 1 — 2 — Ted Kennedy grabs me and pulls me and him out of the shot — the photographer takes the photo of Senator Kerry and the beauty queen — just the two of them.

Ted Kennedy is hugging me now and laughing — “John — you are a dead man — that photo is going to cost you a lot of votes for me now — Ted Leonsis — you get that photograph and you deliver it directly to me — John — this night is going to cost you dearly — havent you learned anything in your many years of political service as to how to deal with the press”.

Senator Kennedy will be missed. It is the end of an era. He was truly bigger than life.